Coil cleaning machine



April .6, 1937.

J, PANAGOPOULOS COIL CLEANING MACHINE Filed March 2, 1936 John Panagq poulos INVENTOR.

BY W A ORNEY Patented Apr. 6, 1937 UNITED STATES REISSUED PATENT OFFICE COIL CLEANING MACHINE John Panagopoulos, Youngstown, Ohio Application March 2,

2 Claims.

This invention relates to coil cleaning machines. The principal object of this invention is to provide a safe and sure method of cleaning coils, and more particularly of cleaning beer coils or other cooling or refrigerating coils.

A further object of this invention is to provide a visible means of determining the results of the cleaning action being performed by the machine. A further object is to provide a coil cleaning machine that will force the cleaning agents through the coils in either direction. V

A further object of this invention is to provide a coil cleaning machine using air and water under pressure together with crystals of glass or other like material.

A still further object is to provide a coil cleaning machine in a single unit, light in weight, simple in design, and readily portable.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made Within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in ing drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevation machine.

Figure 2 is a side elevation machine.

Figure 3 is a cross section taken on lines the accompanyof a coil cleaning of a coil cleaning of Figure 1.

The numeral I designates an electric motor. This motor I is directly connected to an air compressor unit 2 of the diaphragm type. Both the motor I and the air compressor unit 2 are mounted on vacuum cups 3. A frame l holds the air compressor unit 2 and the motor I in proper position and supports an electric switch 5 controlling the motor I. The frame 4 has side arms 6, each of which support a mixing chamber comprising a head portion 7, a circular glass body portion 8, a cover portion $3, and a nut Ill, these units being assembled on a tubular member II which is threaded into the head portion I and into a coupling I2. (See Fig. 3.) This tubular member H has threaded on to its lower end an enlarged circular member I3. This enlarged circular member I3 is provided with openings I 4, and has formed on its lower extremities a tubular member I5. This tubular member I5 is also threaded at its lower end for receiving the nut Ill.

1936, Serial No. 66,633

In connection with this tubular member I5, the nut I0, and the circular glass body portion 8 there are a plurality of rubber washers J6 for the purpose of providing an air-tight. seal on the lower end of the glass body portion 8. This construction is shown in detail in Figure 3.

By referring to Figure 1 it will be seen that directly over the center of the motor I there is provided a four-way valve I I having a handle I8. This four-way valve I! has tubes I9 and 20 extending to the head portions 1 of the mixing chambers. Directly above this four-way valve I1 there is a four-way fitting 25. This fitting receives the water supply from a pipe 22 and the air supply from a pipe 23 and also has attached to it a pressure gauge 25.

In using the device it operates as follows:- Connections are made by means of rubber tubing between the coupler I2 and the ends of the coil to be cleaned. A water connection is made to the pipe 22 and the electric motor I is started by means of the switch 5. The electric motor I operates the air compressor 2 supplying air through a pipe 25 and a check valve 26 to the four-way fitting 2| where it mixes with the water and flows down through the four-way valve I I out through the pipe I9 and into the head I, then down into the mixing chamber where it enters the tubular member I I through the fitting on its lower end. At this point the flow of air and water picks up a number of crystals 21. This mixture of air, water, and crystals goes up through the tubular member II into the coupler I2, and thence into the coil to be cleaned. After passing through the coil, the mixture of air, water, crystals and dirt from the coil is returned to the opposite side of the machine through the other coupler I 2. The mixture then passes down through the tubular member II and emerges through the fitting at its lower end. At this point the tapered lower end of the glass body portion 8 causes the mixture to be thrown upwardly thus churning up any crystals that may have been deposited around this fitting. The mixture then rises in the glass body portion 8 to a screen 27 through which the crystals cannot be carried. The mixture of water, air, and dirt, flows through the screen and into the head i and thence out through the pipe 20 and into the four-way valve I? where it is directed downwardly and out through a discharge tube 28. After the machine has been in operation for some time the supply of crystals becomes completely transferred to one of the mixing chambers where it is visible through the glass body portion 8. At this time the handle I 8 of the four-way valve I1 is moved, reversing the position of the valve, thus reversing the entire fiow of the cleaning mixture through the machine and coil being cleaned. The flow of the mixture now having been reversed, the supply of crystals is carried back through the machine through the coil being cleaned and deposited in the opposite mixing chamber, thus returning the crystals to the same place they were when the cycle started.

The pressure gauge 24 is simply to show that there is adequate pressure to force the crystals completely through the coil and back into the machine. This machine when operating, averages about 40 pound pressure. In the event that the air compressor supplies a greater amount of air pressure than the water pressure being supplied to the machine, the excess air merely goes through the machine in the form of bubbles, thus not interfering in any way with the dependable operation of the device.

It will be seen that my device is simple in construction, readily portable because of its light weight, and capable of doing a thorough cleaning job.

What I claim is:-

1. In a coil cleaning machine comprising a frame adapted for mounting on an electric motor and carrying an air compressor unit adapted to be driven by said electric motor, the combination of a pair of mixing chambers mounted on said frame, a water supply inlet, pipe means for conveying water and air to either of said mixing chambers, a tubular member positioned within each of said mixing chambers for carrying crystals together with water and air to an outlet leading to a coil to be cleaned, a manually controlled valve for reversing the direction of flow in order to move the crystals in a reverse direction through the coil to be cleaned into the opposite chamber, a discharge outlet from said valve, a screen positioned in each of said mixing chambers for separating the crystals from the mixture before the same is discharged from said discharge outlet, substantially as described for the purpose set forth.

2. In a coil cleaning machine comprising a frame adapted for mounting on an electric motor and carrying an air compressor unit adapted to be driven by said electric motor, the combination of a pair of mixing chambers mounted on said frame, a removable head portion for each of said mixing chambers, a cover portion inclosing the lower end of each of said mixing chambers, a water supply inlet, pipe means for conveying water and air to either of said mixing chambers, a tubular member positioned within each of said mixing chambers, an enlarged circular member positioned on the lower end of each tubular member and having a plurality of openings formed therein, a secondary tubular member formed on the lower end of each of the enlarged circular members, a nut positioned on the lower end of each of said secondary tubular members, an outlet coupling positioned on the upper end of each of said tubular members, a valve for reversibly controlling direction of flow in order to move crystals in a reverse direction through the coil to be cleaned into the opposite chamber, a discharge outlet from said valve, 9. screen positioned in each of said mixing chambers for separating the crystals from the mixture before the same is discharged from said discharge outlet.

JOHN PANAGOPOULOS. 

